WPGM Commentary: Marli Is Trying To Find Her Balance On ‘Baby Girl’

Hi, I’m Marli – an R&B singer and songwriter based in Cologne, Germany. Today I released my new single “baby girl“, a song I wrote for myself. And for you.

Writing “baby girl” was a deeply personal journey for me. This song was born out of a time when I, along with many people around me, was struggling with my mental health and trying to somehow find my balance in this roller coaster we call life.

I’m a person to quickly be hard on myself, when I’m “not strong enough” even though I show a lot of compassion to other people and their problems. Often we forget to extend the same love and kindness to ourselves that we so easily give to others. And “baby girl” is a reminder – to myself and to everyone who listens – that we are enough just as we are.

Creating “baby girl” was not just about the music – it was about crafting an experience that resonates on a deeper level. From the lyrics to the visuals, I wanted to build something that feels intimate, honest, and healing. A song that is uplifting and empowering to those who hear it. Like most of my songs, I wrote “baby girl” at home, in my bedroom at night. Just me and my piano, somehow forming a symbiosis that resulted in “baby girl”.

The original version I wrote was more mellow and pure. Like most of the time, when I go to the studio, I wasn’t quite sure how the song would turn out. The production can add so many elements to a song, and there are a lot of options on how to shape a track into its final form.

Together with producer Nico Brandenburger, we started working on “baby girl”, added instruments, harmonies and elements. The song came to live and turned into my personal hymn to appreciate and take care of myself and the people around me. And to not be so hard on myself, but be gentle and patient.

Creating music for me does not end with the final production of a song. It’s about building a world for the listeners on all levels. This is why I put a lot of thought into the visual contents of my songs. “baby girl” was born out of a process of self-relfection and inner work, of beginning to understand dynamics we have with the people around us, with our family and how our childhood and generational trauma can shape us.

We all do carry a lot of memories and experiences that were passed on to us through generations and generations before – both positive and negative. That’s why, in the cover art of “baby girl”, I’m wearing a suit jacket that belonged to my grandfather and was passed on to me. I wanted to capture this thought of being deeply influenced by prior generations, carrying their burdens as well as their blessings and making them our own.

The whole composition of the cover art plays with the thought of nostalgia and the elements of reflection and projection. I decided to use an old TV to create a projection of my younger self to symbolize that we carry a lot of burdens from our childhood that we project onto our current life and relationships.

At the same time, this childhood picture of me is a reflection of myself – even today – since I still carry this younger version, the baby Marli inside of me. She’s a part of who I am today and when I look in the mirror I do see her.

“baby girl” is the first glimpse into my debut EP reflections : projections, a project that is deeply personal and delves into themes of mental health, relationships, generational trauma, and the abuse of power. These are topics that are still too often stigmatized, but I believe that music has the power to start important conversations.

I’m so excited to now finally share this song with you. I hope “baby girl” becomes a safe space for anyone who needs it – a reminder to treat yourself with the same love and compassion you offer to the world. And that even if you’re going through a rough patch at the moment, things will get better.

Listen to “baby girl” below and stream it everywhere else here.

Words by Marli // Follow her on Instagram

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